Big filmmakers in Mollywood didn't have a chance to open with a story written by Madhavikutty. But scenarist turned director Biju Vattappara who got such a big offer almost seems to have ruined his chances of making a remarkable flick. His debut movie `Raama Ravanan' based on acclaimed writer Madhavikutty's story, `Manomi' end up as a confused product unable to make better of the base plot. In an attempt to make it a thriller, the movie loses its much of its emotional impact and gets extremely predictable towards the end.
The movie is all about a poet turned LTTE terrorist fugitive and his attempt to capture his lost love from the opposite front; a theme handled umpteenth times in Bollywood flicks. Here Sureshgopi appears as Thiruchelvam, a fugitive on the run finding refuge in a deserted bungalow somewhere in Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The mansion is not afresh to Thriruchelvam as he had been there almost a decade ago. It was there that he found a Singhalese girl Manomi, who took care of his wounds and helped him to come back to normal life. Though she was aware that he was a member of an outfit that killed her father in Sri Lanka, she falls in love with him. Though she had expressed her intentions of marrying Thiruchelvam to her caretaker uncle Annadurai, the terrorist leader couldn't take care of her because of his dedication to his ideology and his mission.
In his comeback to the same house narrowly escaping from the Sri Lankan Army, Thriuchelvam has got some mission before the cops arrive to nab him. He had to find his mother whom he hasn't met for years and also wants to meet Manomi whose love he had turned down years go. Meanwhile, the state police lead by Sooryanarayanan (Bijumenon) who has got reliable information about the fugitive and his hideout is all set to grab him, which leads into the settings of a thriller.
The biggest problem with the movie is the lean onscreen chemistry that exists between the lead pairs. Though Sureshgopi appear restrained and cold, Mithra Kurian as Manomi appears beautiful and gives a convincing performance in an author backed role. But its Baburaj and Lena as LTTE activists, who take the cake with sparkling performances. Nedumudi Venu as Annadurai and Sudheesh as a blind singer also come up with good performances while Bijumenon appear stylish and tough, all through.
The movie with a genuinely good storyline could have worked well, if the screen writer and the director has shown little more sincerity and sensitivity in etching out a more believable, engaging product. The movie appears melodramatic most of the times, with very limited number of characters on the frames. The debut director fails to bring in the grand ambiance necessary for a film that needed more splendors on the screen. The technical side of the movie with Jibu Jacob's cinematography and Samjith's editing is just up to mark, while the music by Kaithapram is mediocre.
All in all, `Raama Ravanan' fails to explore the themes of futility of war and the emotional and ideological conflicts of its protagonists in a needed level. The little which that is attempted appears loud and off the track. A wasted effort that had the potential of becoming a new age classic, `Raama Ravanan', though lacking the emotional depth and coherence expected of a story by Madhavikutty, call for an one-time watch, if you have some free time.
